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The RSS Oral History Project is a collective effort to capture the memories, recollections, and insights of members of the Rural Sociological Society. A key aim in developing the project was an interest in the evolution and development of rural sociology as a specialty area of sociology, but also the development of rural sociology as an organization. While the initial focus of the project is on interview past presidents, the project is open to interviews of all current and former RSS members.

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In particular, three goals form the focus of the project:

(1) to develop a sense of where rural sociology has been, what progress it has made, and where it is

heading;

(2) to compare past challenges/issues/opportunities with those of today; and

(3) to develop a better understanding of the relationship between sociology and rural sociology.

Project Background

The RSS Oral History Project was initiated by Joachim Singelmann, President of the Rural Sociological Society (2009-2010). Initially conceived in December 2009, Joachim sought to have captured the memories and recollections of past presidents of the society, their contributions, as well as the context in which the scholars worked.

A key aim in developing the project was an interest in the evolution and development of rural sociology as a specialty area of sociology, but also the development of rural sociology as an organization - particularly for past presidents who worked in the South since rural sociology there often was the vanguard of the establishment of general sociology at land-grant institutions.